The Sun. — London, England, 1864-02-17 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLT A VENT HOUSE OF LORDS— Last Evening, The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock BENEFICES AUGMENTATION BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR laid on the table certain papers relative to the working of this act, which was passed last year to enable the Lord Chancellor to dispose of cer tain benefices, the proceeds of which would go to augment others. Up to the present time 37 benefices had been disposed of, and 53 more were under negotiation. The purchase money received for those already sold amounted to £65,300. The actual amount of money already received and paid into the bank amounted to £37,850, the remainder being represented by land, &c. The most sanguine ex pectations were expressed at the passing of the act, which he felt would be realised. In order to give some idea of the sums the livings had realised, he would mention one, worth £261 per annum, which realised £5,000; another of £197, of which the incumbent was very old, brought £3,500 ; and another of £214, the incumbent of which was 58, brought £3,000. Ho was wrong in stating that none of £l5O per annum had been disposed of, for he found that one of that amount had been sold and had realized the sum of £550. Proposals of purchase were coming in every day, and there was good ground for thinking that the act would prove of the greatest public utility. In reply to the Earl of DERBY, The LORD CHANCELLOR said only one living coming under the 23d section of the act had been disposed of. There are, however, treaties in progress for the sale of three or four more. . _ THE AMERICAN WAR• The Earl of CARNARVON moved for a return of claims by British subjects upon the United States Govern ment since the secession of the Southern States, specifying various particulars, and also asked for any information as to the claims made by the United States Government upon her Majesty's Government for damages alleged to be done to A.meriean ships by the Alabama and other Confederate cruisers. The noble lord proceeded to refer to several cases of damages committed on British shipping, which he said in round numbers could not be estimated at less than a total loss of £2,000,000. Earl RUSSELL thought that no public advantage could be served by printing such a voluminous return as that moved for by the noble earl. He could assure the noble earl that British commerce with the Southern States was not on the verge of extinction. The noble earl said that the prize courts of the United States had not done justice according to the principles of international law. But he thought we were bound to accept their decisions. The com plaints that were made often arose from ignorance of the principles of international law as laid down by Lord Stowell and other great judges in the country. With regard to the Saxon, the Government were advised by the law officers of the Crown that she was not taken in British waters. The ground on which she was seized was that she had received from the Alabama and Tuscalooza part of their spoils. All that he could ask in respect of the barbarous murder of the mate of the Saxon was that the offender should be tried as soon as possible, and that demand her Majesty's Govern ment had made. it was said that it is no satisfaction that the commander of the Vanderbilt had expressed his regret at what had occurred ; but what more could he do ? The Earl of CARNARVON—Has he put the murderer under arrest ? Earl RUSSELL—That was a circumstance as to which the Government had no information, but he had seen it stated in a newspaper that this had been done. The case of the Tuscalooza was the case of a vessel which had been captured by the Alabama. She had been seized in compliance with the opinion of the law officers of the Crown that this should be done if she put into a Bri tish port. Then, with respect to the claims of the United States in respect to captures made by the Alabama, her Majesty's Government had always maintained that we were not responsible for any acts of hostility committed by that ship against Federal vessels. The noble earl, indeed, seemed to suppose that by a letter of his, dated October 21, ho had admitted that that question should, at a subsequent period, be referred to arbitration. He (Earl Russell) admitted nothing of the kind. Ho stated then, as he had always done, that the English Government were not responsible for the acts of the Alabama. The American Minister had spoken of a reference to ar bitratien—but her Majesty's Goverment never had consented, and never would consent, to refer this question to arbitration. (Cheers.) There was some talk about a commission to discuss the claims made by British subjects against the United States. The American Minister had said that he was ready to entertain a proposal to that effect. But her Majesty's Government had not lii tened to the idea, because they felt sure that the American Government would insist on referring to such a commission their own claims in respect of the captures of the Alabama ; • and to that they were not prepared to assent. For a long time there had been great excitement in America on the sub ject of the Alabama. She was constantly called "the Bri tish pirate." The feeling of America had been roused against us. And he thought, when the United States Minister said ho did not wish to press the cunsideration of these claims for the present, that the time would come when, after consider ing the precedents laid down by the English and their own judges, the United States Government would come to the conclusion that they had no claims to prefer. His supposi tion was, not that tho English Government would change their mind, but that the United States Government would - change theirs—and therefore in this same despatch he went on to disclaim all liability on our part in respect of the acts of the Alabama. He quite agreed with the noble earl that it Wail deairable that these cases should be settled—but how Could they be settled except by arbitration, to which the noble earl as well as her Majesty's Government objected ? Or would he have preferred that the American Govern ment should have pushed us to the verge of war ? The United States said they were willing to keep their claims in abeyance. Was he to say, " Why don't you make war ? why don't you push things to extremity ? How can you be so unreasonable as to go on with us in good and pacific re lations ?" (Hear, hear.) The noble earl had blamed him (Earl Russell) for saying that the sailing of the Alabama and Oreto from our shores was a scandal and a reproach to our law. But he considered that, having passed the Foreign Enlistment Act in 1819, it was a seandal and a re proach that one of the two belligerents should be able to fit out in our ports, and despatch from them, an armed cruiser to capture the merchant vessels of the other belligerent. Re could quite understand that a vessel might be sent to Charleston, and there sold ; but that we should have a law to prevent the fitting out of armed vessels without her Ma- jesty's licence, and yet that such a vessel should be built in our ports and despatched on a hostile cruise, was a scan dal and a reproach. A very learned judge had said that not only a coach and six, but a fleet of ships, could run through the Foreign Enlistment Act. If that was a correct descrip tion of the Act, all he could say was, that we ought to have laws more clear and intelligible, and more adequate for their purpose. This Act had been passed to secure the peace and welfare of the nation. He trusted that it would be found effectual in preventing British subjects from vio lating the Queen's proclamation of neutrality and carrying on operations of war against her Majesty's declared wish. (Hear, hear.) The Earl of CARNARVON expressed his satisfaction at the explanation given by Earl Russell with respect to the meaning of his despatch of the 26th October. He quite ac cepted that explanation. He must press for the production of the papers in regard to the case of the Saxon; and he also particularly desired to be furnished with the instruc tions given in regard to the detention of the Tusca!ooza, The return in an amended form was then agreed to. The house adjourned at twenty minutes past six, ROUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening, The SPEA.KER took the chair at 4 o'clock, COMMITTEE OF SELECTION. The following members were sworn in as a committee of selection :—Six W. Miles, Sir F. Baring, the Right Hon. E. Herbert, and Mr. Bonham-Carter. THE 13ECKINGTON, LEWES, AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY BILL. Sir J. SHELLEY, iu moving the second reading of this bill, stated its object was to obtain railway accommoda tion for East Sussex, whi c h wan not provided by the exist ing line. The only opponents to a bill bearing the title of this bill last year were one landowner and the Brighton Railway Company, who now opposed this bill. The case of the former was settled in about an hour. Last year the pro moters of the bill, according to his mind, proved that the Brighton Company charged more than their legal fares, which they had subsequently reduced. The merchants, traders, and the residents on the line of the proposed rail. way were in favour of its construction, and the Only oppo. Lent was that powerful company whieh naturally w as opposed to any project that would interfere with their pro fits in the form of a rival company. The company which he represented had met the objections urged against it, and provided a more efficient mode of entrance into Brighton than the existing line. Mr. HANKEY strongly opposed the bill on independent grounds, not being connected with the Brighton Company or the country which the proposed railway would traverse, and objected to the measur e solely ou public grounds. Ho contended that it could not be shown that the pro posed scheme would be of any public benefit, or that it would prove a remunerative speculation. He ridi• cr o e d the idea of making a line to meet the re quirements of so insignificant a place as Eastbourne. There were no new features in the present bill as compared with that of last year, and the committee investigated the latter for 35 days, so that in his opinion it would be a most needless expense to refer the present bill to a committee. He concluded by mo ving, as an amendment, t h at the bill be read a second time that day six months. M r . pAULL, ;Is a member of the committee who consi dered the bill of last year, seconded the amend:nent, an d said that the opposition on the part of landowners amounted to 109. He cited a precedent for refusing the second reading. Sir E. COLEBROKE, as a member of the committee of last year, strongly opposed the bill. There was no doubt there had been some complaints on the part of some portion of the Brighton population with respect to the accommoda tion afforded by the existing line, but he utterly denied that the allegation of illegal charges had been established against the Brighton Company. No doubt there were some altera tions in the details of the present bill, but in the main it was identical with the measure of last year. Colonel BARTELOTT opposed the bill, a- said that the Brighton Company had made arrangemear , for meeting the requirements of the traffic , of the chstr,ct it traversed. (Hear, hear.) Mr. DUTTON' and Mr. BLENCOWE also opposed the bill. Mr. MASSEY said it was clear that the opinion of the house was against the bill; and being, in fact, the same project, and promoted by the same parties as those who brought forward the measure of last year, it would meet with the same result. Sir J. SHELLEY said that after the strong expression of the house, he would not press his motion to a division. The motion was then negatived, and tho amendment agreed to without a division. CALEDONIAN, EDINBURGH, AND GLASGOW, AND SCOTTISH CENTRAL RAILWAY COM PANIES BILL. Mr. BUCHANAN opposed the second reading of this bill, and said the object of the measure was to concentrate the traffic between the west and east of Scotland, which had been attempted before without success. He traced the course of legislation in reference to the attempt to carry out the objects of the present bill, which aimed at a monopoly. He contended that if Parliament sanctioned a scheme. like the present, it would be lending itself to a most dangerous description of legislation. The opponents of the bill were those who were interested in the matter more materially, and, of course, were best acquainted with the advantages of the proposed scheme. Mr. BLACK seconded the amendment for the rejection of the bill amid loud and frequent cries of " Divide." Sir J. FERGUSSON deprecated the practice of oppos ing on second reading in a wholesale way private bills, as being at variance with the principle of proper legis lation on the subject, and denied that the present bill was identical with those which had been previously introduced and rejected. He based his support of the second reading of the bill on important concessions which had been made with reference to a considerable reduction in the rates with re gard to the traffic, and affording the public all the advan tages of a competing line. With respect to petitions that had been got up against the bill, they emanated from a noisy but small section of those who had no interest in the traffic of the district traversed by the proposed railway. Mr. MASSEY objected to the bill, which had been vir tually rejected in 1860 and the following year by the deci sion of the house, and there had been no change in the cir cumstances of the case to justify the introduction of this measure, not that he wished to pledge himself as an oppo nent to all railway amalgamation. Mr. BLA.CKBURNE considered that after the lapse of three years, notwithstanding the decision come to by the house previously, a bill might be properly brought forward. After a few wards from Mr. DALGLISH, the motion for the second reading was negatived without a division. DUBLIN METROPOLITAN RAILWAY BILL. This bill was read a second time, and referred to a com mittee. DUBLIN TRUNK CONNECTING RAILWAY BILL. This bill was also read a second time, and ordered to be committed. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY (No, 3 DONCAS TER TO GAINSBOROUGH, &c.) BILL. Lord R. MONTAGUE proposed the second reading this bill. Mr. C. PACKE submitted that this was a line of great importance, not only to the railway company, but to the public at large, because it would relieve the main line from the north up to Peterborough of the coal and mineral traffic. Mr. R. INGIIA.M was bound, in justice to the promo ters of the bill, to say that, so far from the rejection of the bill by the committee being a discouragement, it was merely objected to in the form it then was. Mr. ROEBUCK was sure that nine out of ten members of the house knew nothing about this matter, and suggested that it had better be dealt with by a select committee. After a few words from MASSEY, the bill was read a second time. HARWICH CORPORATION BILL. Mr. CRAWFORD opposed the second reading of this bill, which. he said, would impose a burden of XlO,OOO upon the inhabitants of Harwich, the majority of whom were op posed to the scheme in which the municipal corporation wished to embark them. The hon. member concluded by moving that the bill ba read a second time that day six months. After a few words from Mr. MASSEY, who expressed an opinion that the bill was for proper and laudable objects the merits of which could only be decided by. comtdilree, the house divided. „The numbers were— Ftrethii — second reading Against it 6B Majority lhe bill was then read a second time. On the London, Brighton, and Kemp Town Station; the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway (Ouse Valley Line) ; and the London, Brighton, and South Coast Rail way ( C unbridge Wells and Eastbourne Line), being ordered for second reading, Sir J. SHELLEY said he should withdraw the opposi. tiou of which he had given notice to the second reading of those bills. They wore proposed for the purpose of doing exactly what the line would have done which the house had just rejected (the Beckenham, Lewes, and Brighton Rail way). By doing so he should test the bona fides of the company as to their intention of making those lines. If they did not do so, he should at a futuro time come forward with a proposal for an indopendont line. The bills were then read a second time. THE PRIVATE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Mr. GIBSON moved a series of res , ,lutions, empowering the committee of selection and the general committee on railway and canal bills, after the committal of such bills, to refer them to the chairman of the committee of ways and means, assisted by a committee of members, to hear the parties promoting or opposing, and report thereon to the house—fixing the scale to be paid by promoters and oppo nents—authorising the Speaker to revise the list of charges for Parliamentary agents and solicitors; or ering that copies of the minutes of evidence on opposed private bills be printed at the cost of the parties requiring it, and directing that private bill committees should meet at 11 o'clock in. the forenoon. Lord It. CECIL, having enumerated the evils attendant upon the existing system of conducting private bill legisla tion, insisted that the time had arrived when a change was imperatively required. The proposal of the President of the Board of Trade was a step in the right direction, and would no doubt tend to lighten the labours of hon. members ; but his objection to it was that it was an improvement which proceeded at a snail's pace. He moved, as an amendment to the first resolution, that it was expedient the duty of ascer taining the facts upon which legislation in respect to pri vate bills was to proceed should be discharged by some tri bunal external to the house, who should report to a select committee of the house. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Plum, and opposed by Mr, Gansox, who pointed out as the chief ob jection that such a preliminary inquiry would only add another stage to the present proceedings. The proposal led to a long and uninteresting discussion, in which Lord H. Vane, Mr. Massey, Colonel W. Patten, and Mr. B. Carter took part, after which the amendment was withdrawn, and the first resolution, as to the duties of the chairman of committee of ways and means, and the committee of members by whom he is to be assisted, was agreed to, as were also the succeeding resolutions bearing on the question of fees and the printing of evidence. On the resolution that committees on private bills be ordered to meet at eleven in the forenoon, Lord R, CECIL deprecated the proposal as cruel and inhuman, Colonel PATTEN believed that few changes in tho present system would more conduce to the diminution of expense ; but it would be unpopular amongst members, and he feared would not be found to work well. Mr. HASSARD moved, as an amendment, the substitu tion of " twelve" for eleven o'clock, but leaving it to the committee to adjourn to such other hour as it might ap point. Ultimately both motion and amendment were withdrawn. At 20 minutes past 11 o'clock the notices of motion wore called on, and Mr. ADAIR gave notice that on the 15th of March Mr. Fortescue (Andover) would call the attention of the house to the court-martial on Colonel Crawley, and move for further papers. Mr. H. SH ERIDAN gave notice of a bill to reduce the duty chargeable on fire insurances. Lord R. CECIL gave uotice that on Friday fortnight Mr. Peacock' would submit a motion with reference to the Tnscaloosa. Leave was given to Mr. GIBSON to introduce a bill to facilitate the obtaining of powers for the construction of railways; and a bill to facilitate the obtaining of further powers by railway companies. The select committeee on the registration of county voters was nominated on the motion of Mr. DODSON. The house adjourned at a quarter to 12 o'clock. No 1 103 IE complete without a WILCOX AND GIBBS ' SEWING-SIACIIINE. Simple, compact, efficient, durable, and noiseless. Warranted to fulfil all the requirements of a perfect family machine. Prospectus free on application at No. 135, Regent-street, W.—[ADVT.] [ADVERTISE XENT.]—Consumption, all nervous, bilious, liver, and stomach complaints, in every stage, are only ag gravatei and accelerated by drugs of every description, but perfectly curable by Du Barry's health restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, as proved by thousands of cases which had been considered hopeless. We quote a few.—Cure No. 62,914. Miss Lange,lB years of age, cured after the medical men had abandoned all hopes of her recovery from the last stage of pulmonary consumption, with fearful cough, expectoration ; exhaustion, spitting of blood, perspirations, hollow cheeks, emaciated to a skeleton. She is now, thank God, a perfectly healthy, blooming, fleshy girl,—N. Lange, Commissaire de Police. Cure, No. 45,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley Strrey, of thirty yea rs ' di sease d l ungs , sp it t i ng of blood, liver der anxement, and p ar ti a l d ea f n e ss . —C ure, N o. 47,121. Miss Eliza beth Jacobs, of extreme nervo usness, i ndigestion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies.--Cure, No. 54,816. The Rev. James T. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk, of indigestion and torpidity of the liver, which had resisted all medical reatment. In tins, Ilb, 2s 9d; 21b, 4s Gd; 51b, 11S; 121 b, 225; 241 h, 40s. Barry du Barry and Ca., No. 77, Regent-street, London ; also Fortnum and Mason ; and all grocers and chemists in every town of the United iiingdom THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17, 1864. this purpose. Would it not be worth the while of the British Government to have an eye to the doings of these gentlemen ? If they had gone to Ireland to procure gifts of unmistakable potheer for thit patriotic, if they desire bog-oak ornaments and arbutus work from Killarney, worsted-work from Dundalk or linen from Belfast, well and good; but if whisky and bog-oak, arbutus and linen, are but thin disguises for recruits of the Federal army—as many Irish in this city believe, and as, perhaps, some people high in office in Washington have reason to know—the least that the British Govern ment can do is to watch the proceedings of the emissaries who have the matter in hand. It was an nounced on Friday that one of them, named Henry O'Clarence M'Carthy, was to leave this city by the Etna on Saturday, and as the gentleman's name appeared duly in the list of passengers yesterday, it may be presumed that the information is correct, so far as his departure is concerned. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE, STAINES, WOKINGHAM, AND WOKING. The directors of this company have recommended the declaration of a dividend of 2a. per share on tho ordinary shares of tho company for the past half-year. MIDLAND. The half yearly meeting of this company was held yes which has appeared in The ter T d h ay e r a e t p D er e t r , b e y n Mr. e r t . re ß e e t a e le f , M.P., i n th e c h air . Sun, was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said in looking at the accounts they would see that he had not been wrong in saying that they h a d d er i ve d very littl e advantage from the Great Exhibition ; on their line the traffic had increased by comparison in the past half-year ; and their expenditure had been relieved from that which was always incident to an exceptional traffic ; so that, in fact, their ex penditure had come back to a normal ratio as compared with the traffic. Everything in their accounts came within the ordinary and known charges ; the only unsatisfactory item was the cost of the great accident at Market Harborough ; that was now done with and liquidated, and the accounts would in future be free from it. As to their position it was a most difficult matter to know how to deal with such new complications as might arise in railway affairs ; the new lines and new projects springing up would require careful judgment. It would b 3 impossible to apply any particular principle. Every circumstance must be carefully weighed, and each project discussed on its own 'merits. The new pro ject s affecting the metropolis were a proof of this, in reference to which there appeared an admirable article in The Sun of last Saturday. The same course had been pursued now as many years ago. It lad been said that something like the French system ought to be applied, and Lord Dalhousie's report recommended a sort of restricted monopoly, but that was upset by Parliament, which left things, as it were, at haphazard. He had teen strongly recommended by the ac curacy of the article in Tire Sun ; it had reminded him that many years ago he gave evidence in favour of a line from Derby to Leeds. Since that time a second line to that town had been obtained, cur Dewsbury, by the London and North-Western; a third by the Great Northern ; and now a fourth was threatened. This showed the absence of any fixed principle, the public feeling varied, and wherever a disposition was manifested to make a line Parliament was too apt to give power, irrespective of other considerations or interests. He then 'eferred to the new projects before Par liament, of which, h 3 said, about 100 proposed to do some thing or other with the Midland. It was necessary that all these schemes shoull be carefully watched by the Board. He alluded to the new works proposed by the Midland Com pany, one of these being the construction of a new line to Sheffield which bad leen long pressed upon them, and the erection of a central station in that town; they were pre pared to redeem a premise long since given, and to do the best in their power for that important town. Last year one of their projects was a junction with the Metropolitan line; that scheme had bees withdrawn. Now they had one for making a junction weich would be costly, but it would put the Midland Railway in as complete communication with the Metropolitan as the Great Northern or any other rail way. Ho pointed out the necessity of their projected short line from Bath to Mingotsfield, connecting the former city with the Midland system and the north of England, and also of negotiations vith the London and North-Western Company, by which he preliminaries had been arranged for the Midland becoming joint partner with that company in the Lancaster and Carlisle, This would put an end to old grievances between the two companies in respect of the traffic in that part of the country. This was, however, an important bill, and wculd be brought before a special meet ing of the shareholders. He said they were spending a great deal of money on the Bedford and London line. The works were being pressed forward with much vigour, and early in the spring o: summer they would have to consider how they should raise the capital to carry out the works connected with the bills of last year. The proprietors might depend on it that whatever was done would be with due regard to their interests. He concluded by moving the adoption of the report. Mr. HUTCHINSON, the deputy-chairman, seconded the motion. Mr. HADLEY said that in his opinion the report and statement were more satieactory than on former occasions. It was a comfort to see that they had earned £61,000 last half year in excess of the corresponding one, and that not more than 25 per cent. had been expended in earning it. He thought this was no more than ought to he ; the in crease or traffic had flowed naturally on the line--it had not been got from other companies. There was a large amount of £lB,OOO as compensation fo: the Market Harborough accident. Dr. O'BRIEN said that a line from Mangotsfield to Bath would be like putting a fifth wheel to a coach ; it would be a waste of money to make a line to save going round six miles. He also recommended the shareholders to reject the proposal for a lino to Thornborough ; it was not needed. Mr. HonsoN, of Sheffiold, suggested that the money re quired for the construction of the line from Bedford should be raised by the issue of original stock, the dividend on which might be deferred for two or three years. As to the new line for Sheffield, he Was sorry to say that it would have the opposition of the town-council and all tho great authorities of the town, and a very unwise opposition it would be. lie wished the directors had done for Sheffield ten years ago what they were proposing now. Mr. BATE3IAN complained of the excessive law charges. The CHAIRMAN replied. In reference to the claims for compnsation, he said the trade claims, as he might call many of them, made on publi c compan ies, required and always received the most delicate attention at the hands of this company. Nothing was ever done by the profes s io nal men which hzd not the direct sanction of the B oard. As to the Sheffield project, he said it wa s intended to make the line and station, and their desire was to do everything to accommodate that town. With reference to the law bill complained of, it was not that of their own professional men, but included the charges of all the other solicitors with whom they had transactions on that particular line. He denied the statement of Mr. Hadley that they always under• estimated the cost of new lines and works. As to the Malvern line, he had admitted that he had pressed it on the Midland Company, and ho now regretted that they did not make the line, for the passenger traffic on it was better than on any part of the Midland s y stem. He considered also that Dr. O'Brien's objections to the Bath line were futile, the iron mines to which ho referred being actually open and in work. The motion for the adoption of the report was put and agreed to, with the exception of that part of it which refer red to the Mangotsffeld and Bath line. A resolution to the effect that it would be an unnecessary ou tla y of ca p ital to m ake it was moved by Dr, O'Brien, and n e g atived, two hands only being held up in favour of it. The various dividends were declared as recommended, and a vote of £lOO,OOO was taken for more wagg ons . The retiring directors and auditoria were re-elected ; and the meeting was then made special , at which a resolution was passed to the effect that such of the X(3 Is stock of 1859 as had been fully paid up be converted into stock. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA. (From the Times Correspondent.) NEW YORK, Feb. 2. If Great Britain, France, Italy, or any European country or nationality were in the throes of such a revolution as that which now afflicts America, it would be comparatively easy for the native or foreign student of events to calculate the proba bilities of the morrow from the facts of to-day, and to predict the nature, if not the exact form, of the inevitable catastrophe. But in Federal America such calculations rest upon no tangible foundation. Everything shifts and changes so rapidly and un expectedly that the watcher ceases to be sun. prised, and ends with being bewildered. Yet, not notwithstanding the danger of predicting the future action of a people so anomalous, it is difficult to avoid believing that Mr. Lincoln in his proclama tion of Sunday last, calling for 500,000 men, or 200,000 in addition to the 300,000 whom he de manded in October last, has brought affairs to an issue which will effectually test the great question of the earnestness of the Northern people in this suicidal war. If half a million of men will come for ward voluntarily with or without a high bounty, or if the same number will permit themselves to be compulsorily dragged from their homes and busi ness to reannex the unwilling South, the establish ment of a military despotism in the North may be looked upon as a certainty. The people will have virtually declared themselves ripe for it, and Mr. Lincoln or some bolder and abler man will take them at their word. If, on the contrary, no new re cruits shall offer, and none but the regiments whose term of service is on the point of expiration shall enlist during the next four weeks, Mr. Lincoln must either try what he can do by a forced con scription, at the risk of insurrection in the streets and a new civil war, or stultify himself by with drawing his proclamation of Sunday, and trusting to his old army alone for the work he has under taken. He has challenged the people more peremp torily than ever, and that, too, in the face of the fact that his last attempt at a conscription was not alone a failure, but a perilous experiment upon the allegiance of the richest and most populous city in the Union. Under the circumstances Europe may well look on with wonder, and America with alarm, to see what will come of his temerity. In the meantime it augurs ill for the President's chances of procuring a new army that the supporters of the Government should think it expedient to fan up the flickering embers of popular enthusiasm by the assertion that half a million of men are wanted, not so much for the conquest of the South, which they affect to treat as almost a fait acconzpli, as for the contingencies of a war with France or Great Britain. The device is a very stale one, and is only employed with a view to catch the credulous and vindictive Irish of the " Fenian Brotherhood." But the Irish, with all their animosity against England, are wiser and more cautious than they were. They are not quite certain that the "Fenian Brotherhood" are not fools. They have ceased to volunteer in any considerable numbers ; and the new comers that pour into New York harbour every week from Liver pool are warned before they leave and after they arrive against taking out their first papers of natu ralization, and will claim alienage if any attempt be made to enforce their services. It is likely, therefore, that this worn-out subterfuge will fail. All things considered, the state of affairs is much more critical than it has been at any moment since the armies of Generals Lee and Meade fought hand• to-hand at Gettysburg. The South, temporarily stunned in Tennessee, has recovered its senses, and shows abundant life, vigour, and determination for a new effort. The silly stories of its exhaustion and its demoralization are exploded, and no longer find a solitary believer, except in the ranks of those whose pecuniary interests lead them to credit what they wish, The ominous shadow of a Presidential election carried at the point of the bayonet, or ab rogated altogether on the piea of military necessity lies dark and heavy on the country. But what does it signify to a people like these ? New York dances, sings, and rejoices. " Hops," as it is the fashion to designate balls, were never so numerous, so brilliant, and so well attended. The theatres are crammed every night. The jewellers cannot manufacture or import fast enough to setisfy their fair customers. Pictures and engravings never commanded such high prices, or sold so rev.di y. The books that are most sought after are those which are most sp►endidly bound in gilt and morocco. The ladies flaunt and flare and trail their• velvets, damasks, and satins through the slush of an ill-paved and much-spitting metropolis to show how rich they are and how ittle they care for a lavish expenditare of money. Shops and storekeepers of all kinds flourish upon multitudinous greenbacks, and there is so great an influx of pleasure-loving strangers into New York from every part of the country that the numerous palatial hotels are not more than half sufficient for the accommodation of their guests. Everybody seems to be growing rich, except the man with a fixed income and the labourer. The latter, better paid than his compeer in Europe, refuses to forsake the spade or the cartwhip for the musket, and calls upon his fellows in every kind of handicraft to organise strikes and sink out of the veins of capital an amount of remuneration which capital would refuse if it durst, but hardly dares, for fear of the consequences in a land where labour is scarce. Another noticeable peculiarity of New York at this time is that although it swarms with soldiers, its mind was never so little set upon soldiers or soldiering since the war broke out. It is bent on pleasure and money making alone, and has seen so many military processions up and down Broadway as to have grown weary of so flat and familiar a spectacle. The regiments whose time has expired, and most of which have re-enlisted for the bounty, have stipulated fur a holiday before resuming their places in the camp—a holiday to visit their friends and spend their money. They arrive en masse, and parade up the streets literally unnoticed. No official comes out to inspect and make speeches to them; no salutes are fired and no flags waved by fair hands from verandah and portico, from window and housetop, in honour of their bravery. " What does this mean ?" inquires the most widely-read of all the New York papers of yesterday in drawing at tention to this apathy. " Does it mean that our people have lost their old enthusiastic admiration for all that is honourable and brave ? Does it mean that the spirit that set the whole country ablaze at the assault on Sumter has died out ? No ! but it means that the people no longer recognise these men as their representatives in a glorious struggle. It is an ominous sign to the party in power ; for it means that the people no longer consider the war a war for the salvation of the country. The war, as managed by the Administration, has degenerated to a strife about the nigger. The peopfe see this, and arc disgusted at it." Though this journal commits what is called the offence—a serious one in the eyes of the party in power—of spelling negro with two g's, it is quick in perceiving the current of public opinion, and speaks the truth in this in stance. Goaded by the organs of the Administra tion, the Boards of Aldermen and Councilmen yes terday, but with great reluctance, voted the sum of 25,000 dollars for the purpose of paying the expenses of a public reception of the veterans, one of the members of the Board declaring that he would much rather vote the same amount for the purchase of artificial legs and arms for the maimed heroes. The form which the reception is to assume has not yet been agreed upon. The "Fenian Brotherhood," whose leading idea is to organize an Irish army for the rescue of Ireland from the grasp of the "greedy and bloody Sasse nach," have been rebuked from the Roman Catholic pulpits of nearly the whole North, and told to de vote their energies and their patriotism to some more practicable purpose. Without, however, abandoning their primary purpose, the Fenians have lately bestirred themselves to get up a great Irish national fair, with the double object of assist ing the families of deceased or wounded Irish soldiers end of raising funds for "Irish national purposes." This fair is to be held in Chicago dur ing Easter week next. Every State in the Union is to be represented by a stall in the fair, and by a fair Irish lady to preside over the sale of its merchandise. It appears that there are now in Ire land several agents of the society, with the osten sible object of collecting and purchasing goods for LONDON AND BLACKWALL. a y n w ie a li s i h n e t l h d eehai r rt half hepe o Londonryearlyreport wa s b aT e k e ae t vn i n ear g ns r f el t ai h dr i .. s j c . o N m p . a p n yester day The hhaeet _ --- --- The CHAIRMAN, is moving the adoption of the report, said the traffic fir the past half -year compared with the last half of the International Exhibition year, when they had a considerable increase of traffic. In the past half-year the traffic had been little else than the ordinary traffic of the increaseli works at o the f L2 d , 0 8 0 0 1 0 s . I They had h b e a e d n e s n o d m e e e n wh e a , t yetimproved o w b e y d t a li n e voured to keep down th eex penditure as much as possible,but i with an ncrease of traffic they must expect to incur an in crease of expenditure . Under the he id of repairs and renew als of carriages they had placed some new bodies on the old underworks of the carriages, and this was being done gra dually to improve their stock and render it more suitable and convenient for the traffic, They had expended for this pur pose £l3B more than in the corresponding period of 1862. Scarcely any other item of expense showed a considerable increase. They for the same half of 1862, and had carried 100,000 more had exp en d e d £667 more in work in g than passengers, and also additional goods traffic. They had been in hopes that before the present time they would have had traffic from the London Docks, but ho was sorry to eay that was not the case at present. Not that it arose from any unwillingness on the part of the Dock Company, but from their being put to groat di fficulty in settling how they should accommodate the railway traffic in the docks so as to satisfy the revenue and others. The railway would be ready before the Dock Company, the railway bridge into the docks should be placed. It would be at least two months before they could convey if they only knew where goods direct from the railway into the docks. He was glad to say that the company's proposed line for the Isle of Dogs had passed standing orders, and met with no opposition. The parties mostly interested in that locality and in send ing goods to and from the north had met the company in a very friendly spirit, and they all hoped the bill would pass through both houses of Parliament without opposition. With regard to the proposed new lines for the metropolis, they could hardly find that any of them would be beneficial to the Blackwell line. Some of these projects that would have been injurious to them had failed on standing orders. Their goods traffic had increased to a certain extent, and they had made agreements with the Great Eastern Com pany for the use of sidings and arches, which would bring them a considerable addition to their coal traffic. They were on good terms with the Great Eastern, and were likely to be so in all respects. Mr. MACNAUOIITEN, deputy-chairman, seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. Mr. JEGGINS thought the report on the whole was very satisfactory. The lowering of the fares had been an advan tage to the com➢any, and a success. Ho had estimated that the cost of working traffic belonging to other companies over their line was 20 per cent., or for the past half-year £5,520, and for working their own traffic 50 per cent., or £11,995, making together X 17,517. Ho found that their actual expense of working was £17,431, and he thought the expenditure could be reduced. There was nothing down for compensation, and as they had nearly 400 trains a day over their lines for so many years without accident he thought they were greatly indebted somewhere for that re sult, and suggested that they should give their best thanks to Mr. Wightman, their general manager, fot the successful manner in which he had worked the line for so many years. (Hear.) _ _ _ . , A SHAREHOLDER complained of the dirty state of some of the carriages, and that they were too narrow between the seats to accommodate the passengers properly. The CHAIRMAN said they were obliged to work the old carriages as long as I ossible, but all the new carriages has been enlarged. Mr. WIGuntAN, the general manager, explained that the old stock of carriages had been on the line since 1840, and they had great difficulty in accommodating the fashion of the present day. The stock on the North London was newer than theirs, and other companies' carriages were newer still, but as the company gradually renewed their carriages they adopted all the improvements up to the time of renewal. They had great difficulties at times, as some of the passengers complained that they were not allowed to smoke in the carriages, and others complained of the smok ing. With regard to the expenses, every economy had been exercised. They were obliged to employ a great number of men to work the traffic, which was from 7 in the morning till 11 at night. All the signal and switch men were changed at 2 o'clock in the day. They had therefore not a tired man at work. No doubt the expenditure was increased by this, but ho believed it enabled them to avoid accidents. There was not a greater interval than 2f, minutes without trains running. The cost of working averaged about 33 per cent. of the receipts, and he did not think anything could be saved upon it. (Hear.) The CHAIRMAN thought they might carry cheap fares too far. They had increased the receipts by £240, and had carried but 117,000 more passengers. They had no plea sure traffic on their line. Resolutions were passed adopting the report. declaring a dividend at the rate of 4} per cent, per annum on the pre ference stock and at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum on the consolidated ordinary stock of the company, payable on the 17th inst. ; re•electing Mr. Wetham and Mr. Mangles, the retiring directors, and also Mr. Ratcliffe, the retiring auditors. _ On the motion of Mr. JEGGINS, the best thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr. Wightman for his care and management he conducting the traffic during many years with perfect safety. This meeting was then made special, and the agreement for the transfer of the Haydon-square railway and works to the London and North-Western Railway Company in con sideration of £95,000 was unanimously approved. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors, WEST YORKSHIRE. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yes terday at gradford ; Mr. William Firth in the chair. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, an abstract of which has appeared in The Sun, said that great difficulty and inconvenience had arisen in consequence of their not being able to obtain a return of accounts from the Great Northern Company. They had instructed their solicitors to file a bill in chancery against that company to compel a fulfilment of the agreement. The contractors had undertaken.to construct the Batley and the Methley branches by the Ist of July next. The opening of these branches would be of great importance to the traffic of the company. The district of their railway had been prosper ous, and their traffic had been large, and, while maintaining their dividend of 7 per cent,, the directors had carried a large surplus to the reserve fund. Mr. J. CooKE seconded the motion for the adoption of the report, and it was carried unanimously. A dividend at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum upon the original stock, and per cent. upon the Ossett stock, was then declared, payable on and after the 23d inst. The retiring directors were re-elected, and resolutions were passed authorising the directors to apply to Parlia• meat for powers to make working arrangements with other companies, and also to maks a short line at Wortley. MID-WALES. The report of the directors states that the line between the junction with the Llanidloes and Newton Railway and Rhayader is completed, and the remainder of the main line to the junction with the Brecc,n and Merthyr Railway at Talyllyn is so far advanced that the directors anticipate the opening of the whole line to the public in the month of May. An agreement had been entered into by this company, under the powers of the general Acts of Parliament, with the Llanidloes and Newtown, the Oswestry and Newtown, and the Oswestry, Ellesmere, and Whitchurch Railway Cora panics, by which a mutual interchange of running powers has been conceded ; thus a continuous through route is esta blished between Merthyr on the one hand and Oswestry and Whitchurch on the other. To this extent, therefore, the original scheme contemplated by Parliament of a through route between Merthyr and the districts around that place and the north is effected. Mr. B. Piercy, the engineer, states that great credit is due to the contractors, Messrs. Watson and Co., for the vigour with which they are pushing forward the works, and the satisfactory manner in which they are executing them. The capital account shows that £790,309 had been expended to Dec. 31st last. SPALDING AND BOURN. The line from Bourn to Spalding is now being staked out, and its construction will soon be proceeded with. GREAT WESTERN OF CANADA. The loss on exchange by the conversion of American money received for the carriage of through traffic on this company's line, from the commencement of the current half. year to January 30, 1864, amounted to the sum of £13,458, METROPOLITAN RAILWAY SCHEMES. Yesterday the joint committee, consisting of Earl Gran ville, chairman, Lords Romney, Redesdale, Stanley of Al darley, Eversley, and Stanley, Right lion, M, Gibson, Mr. Massey, and Col. W. Patten, took evidence relative to the various schemes now proposed for railway communication in the metropolis. The principal witnesses examined were Col. Yolland, R.E., ono of the Government inspectors of railways, and Mr. Booth, of the Railway Department of the Board of Trade, and the committee adjourned to this day at 12 o'clock. SELECT COMMITTEE ON STANDING ORDERS. Yesterday this committee met for the first time to consi der the cases of the various bills reported by the examiners as not having complied with the standing orders of Parlia ment. The committee, after deliberation, decided that the standing orders might be dispensed with in the following railway bills :—Neath and Brecon Extension, Wellington and Drayton, Dublin and Baltinggass Junction, Lynn and Sutton (Cross -keys Bridge), Severn Valley, Leeds, Brad ford, and Halifax, and Glasgow City Union. The committee also decided that the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with in the case of the Daventry, the deposit of 8 per cent. on the estimated cost of the line not having been lodged with the Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery by the time prescribed. Yesterday, before the examiners, the bills for the Bristol and North Somerset (Extensions and Bath Extension) were declared not to have complied with the standing orders in some particulars. SECOND-HAND BABY CLOTHES.—Here, too, are baskets of second-hand baby clothes—layettes, as our neighbours call them—the bows and ends of white ribbon gone long ago, and the bright pink flannel washed into a melancholy salmon-colour, as unlike the radiancy of its first freshness as the hoary sinner is unlike the innocent boy. Perhaps the basket of baby clothes has done duty for a long succession of little strangers : so no wonder if all the finery has disappear€d, if the bows and tags of white satin ribbon have been cut off, if the worked frills and flounces have more rents than broideries in them. For the first, mamm a thought it no hardship to strip her )et young marriage clothes of half their prettiness, that:she might make baby look the child of a prince at least. Older mothers smiled in !their hearts when they saw mamma snipping off her fineries ; they knew to what a peaceful state of langui d in,l ifference in the matter of ribbons and laces she would c e ome by th time the sixth or' even the fifth had to bo provided for ; and how a lopsided strip of old gray-bearded Saxony, if only .serviceable to its purpose, would be quite as acceptable in her eyes as the exactest parallelogram of delicate rose-colour bound with inch-wide ribbon exquisitely worked. At present, it is all the diffe rence between the now and the old, the strange and the well-used, the instinct just awakened, and all blushing in its emotion, and the instinct become quite comely and matronly, and taking to its duties in a matter-of-fact kind of way, slicitous only for the expedient and the actual ne cessity. Motherhood and baby clothes are not the only things in this life that lose their sharpness by yearly wear I —Dickens's "AU the Year Round." THE EXTRAORDINARY CLERICAL PROCEEDINGS IN SUFFOLK.—It appears that the Bishop of Nor. wich has abandoned the proceedings which he commenced against the Rev. G. Drury, rector of Claydon, Suffolk, for his alleged anti-Anglican practices, which have attracted so much attention of late. The confused state of the eccle siastical law is assigned as a reason for this step on the part of the right rev. prelate. SPIRIT OP TEE PUBLIC JOURNALS, HERALD.—The maxim enunciated by Grotius, " Hostem esse qui faciut quod hosti placet," as one which should regulate the conduct of neutrals towards belligerents, has been strangely disregarded by her Majesty's Government in their treatment of the Confederate States. Lord Russell's theory of neutrality appears to consist in complacency to the strong belligerent, and contempt to the weak. When it is possible to strain international or municipal law to the despite of the Confederates Lord Russell exhibits extraordinary energy and determination. Violation of British territory, hostilities earried into British waters in utter contempt of the rights and lives of British subjects, provoke from him but a feeble remonstrance ; but when Federal interests are threatened no language can be too strong and no action too determined. The guise of a faintly disputed legality is sufficient justification for a blow to be dealt to the Confederates with the prospective reward of an approving smile, or, what is perhaps more likely, of a short intermission of bluster, from the Federals. The last exemplifica tion of Lord Russell's peculiar view of neutrality is the case of the Tuscalooza. The Tuscalooza, a Confederate cruiser, was seized by the Govern ment of the Caps of Good Hope, under orders from home, in Simon's Bay, on the 27th of December last. She was formerly called the Con rad, but after her capture by the Alabama she was rechristened, and converted into a man of war by Captain Semmes for the service of the Confederate State. Some three months ago she had been allowed to remain unmolested in the harbour of Simon's Bay, and had been recognised by the authorities there as a Confederate man of war. She is commanded by Lieut.:Lowe, who reported that since her last visit the Tuscalooza had been cruising between the Cape and Brazil, and had spoken nearly one hundred vessels. But of that number only one was a Fede ral, which, having an English cargo on board, was released on giving a bond. Thus no act has been committed on her part which can render her more liable to seizure than she was three months ago. Lieutenant Lowe, in full confidence in his right to British hospitality, came to Simon's Bay with the intention of getting the bottom of his vessel re cop pered and of taking in supplies. But on the day after his arrival, the admiral, Sir Baldwin Walker, dispatched from the flag ship a lieutenant and a boarding party of twenty-five men to take posses sion in the Queen's name. Lieutenant Lowe imme diately lodged with the admiral a formal protest against the seizure, which protest it appears, has been forwarded to the Home Government. And the United States consul, on the other hand, lodged a claim tothe vessel on behalf of her former owners, which claim has apparently been recognised by the Government, as he has been informed by the authorities that the Tuscalooza will only be detained until she can be handed over to them. The proposition is indisput able that when a ship is captured it is the duty of the captors to send her into some convenient port belonging to themselves for adjudication. But this proposition can only refer to belligerents who have some ports to which they can bring their prizes. All the ports;of the Confederate States are blockaded, so that the commanders of Confederate men of war have been compelled to constitute themselves prize tribunals, and to adjudicate upon the vessels which they halve captured, simply because it is out of their power to bring them before a more regularly consti tuted court. It is said that the point of difference between the legal authorities of the Cape and this country is whether Captain Semmes is competent to condemn prizes without taking them before the usual prize tribunals. If the Tuscalooza is not legally condemned she has not become, by the rights of war, the property of the Confederate Government, and her owners may claim her as their property. If, on the other hand, she was legally condemned, sh© is entitled to all the privileges accorded by neutrals to belligerents, and, amongst others, to the refuge of our ports and to such supplies which are not of a warlike character. Lord Russell has clutched with his usual avidity the opportunity to inflict an injury on the Confederate cause. If special pleading could prove that Captain Semmes could not constitute a legal tribunal for the adjudication of prize, a blow would be dealt to the Confederates and a favour conferred upon their antagonists. But we have yet to learn that the Government of one nation can, by any stretch of international law, dictate to the Government of another nation which is recognised by her as a belligerent, what tribunals it shalt con stitute prize courts. Captain Semmes claims to con stitute such a court by virtue of a special authority from his Government; and surely his Government has no less authority to appoint Captain Semmes a judge of prize than the Federal Government has to make Judge Betts the principal performer of judi cial farces in these very matters in the District Court of New York. There is no regular interna tional, or even, says Vattel, municipal court to ad judicate upon questions of lawful prize or capture. This is a jurisdiction assumed by the Sovereign, in whom the right and power of declaring war and peace is vested. In Great Britain the power to de cide questions of naval prize is delegated by the Sove reign to the Judge of the Admiralty Court, before which tribunal it can only, in the first instance, be brought. In like manner in the Confederate States the Government de facto is equally em- powered to delegate its power to such persons or tribunals as they choose ; and other nations can have ❑o right to dispute their authority. It so hap pens, from the peculiar circumstances of the Con federate State, that the court so constituted differs from that of other powers. But for that reason, unless Captai❑ Semmes's proceedings were charac terised by gross injustice, their authority is not, therefore, to be impugned. The Tusealooza, after being condemned as a prize, was duly commissioned for the Confederate service, and thenceforward was entitled to all the immunities of a ship of war, one of which is freedom from arrest. There is peculiar inconsistency in her present seizure, as she has once been recognised by the authorities as a man of war; and it is questionable whether they are not estopped by their own former act of recognition from now proceeding against her. however, whatever may he the ultimate result of the protest made by Lieut. Lowe to the Home Government, the delay c nse- quest upon all legal proceedings will have produced the de3ired result. The Confederate cruiser will be under an embargo for some months to come, and the Federal merchant vessels, whom their Govern ment are too weak to protect, will enjoy an immu nity from seizure under Lord Russell's protecting cegis, Tiam.—Mr. Gladstone introduced his bill for the , better Collection of Taxes, which was read a secona time on Monday night, is a speech which was a miracle of ingenuity. Few could have supposed that there existed on this dry ground so many varied materials of moral and imaginative interest. It is true that the greater part of mankind are hopelessly ignorant as to the nature of the gulf between the tax collector and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and how it is bridged over. The tax paid and the receipt filed, no one cares to know what becomes of the money, except that one occasionally roads in the papers the portentous account of a collector having disappeared, and the taxes having actually to be levied again. An event so hideous we class with a conflagration or an attack of hydrophobia—a cala mity that only occurs to one in ten thousand, or not so many. But the general public now learns from Mr. Gladstone that there is a world of existence, of incident, and of excitement in that fiscal hierarchy of which the collector, with his iron pen, his ink bottle, and his book, is the humble messenger and representative ; and that in it there are grievances, jealousies, opportunities of spite and persecution, and room for catastrophes, even to the chance of whole parishes being laid under unknown collectors against their will, plundered whole sale, and compelled to make good the defalca tions of men whom they had no hand in ap pointing. That taxpayers, indeed, should suffer grievances is intelligible and probable ; but that parishes, commissioners of land-tax, assessed taxes, and income-tax, clerks, assessors, and even col lectors, should be actually suffering untold wrongs, is a revelation which the world was hardly prepared for. It is a new source of interest, and a new field of sympathy. In the almost utter exhaustion of domestic incidents our novelists might find a new world in Mr. Gladstone's disclosures. A general officer or a lady of rank compelled by a rejected assessor, or a jealous Board of Commissioners, to collect tax es and to s e ll up h alf the neighbourhood, being thrice obliged t o a b andon the London season, a Continental tour, and still more interesting en gagements, but t a ki ng a j ust revenge by bolting with the money and l eav i ng all the neighbourhood to pay their taxes ov er aga i n, t h e surveyor to go into the Gazette, and the clerk to commit suicide, would, at least, have th e c l a i m of novelty, an d a dedication to Mr. Gladstone would secure a large and enthusiastic class of readers. For our part, we will not rush in where the veil is so recently raised, and where Mr. Gladstone him self cannot answer f or the temper of the agen cies he has brought to light. Our interest is that of the t axpayer. In that capac i ty we are qui▪ te content to have no voice in the appointment of the coll ec t or , part i cularly as we recognise t h e pri▪ nciple involved in the present system of volun tary assessment, that so long as the Treasury does not appoint the collector it will not be answerable for hi s d e f a l cat i ons. Of course we consider it an object t o secure that the ghost of a tax once laid, it shall not revisit us. Then, too, we cannot but ac knowledge th e s i mp li c i ty and econom y of making one set of officials do all the work. On oue point there must still b e a diff erence o f opinion ; or rather, as Mr. Giadstone says, a decided objection, for the present, to collection by the officers of the Inland Revenue. In m an y pl aces th e o ff i ce of collector is be se rt) : very valuable, and the commissioners will to part with the patronage. But sho uld the Jul tilt become law, and work well w h ere allowed a tri e. no doubt the general interest will eventually r vail against the very natural wishes of locnet al CO missioners. As to the surveyors , the y are 135i0 lested for the present, either in their office ° their pay: But though the Chancellor of th at e chequer seems to have exhausted all the griev of at' the classes concerned in the collection of taxe s ; there is one class, not less interested, vfbici:jthe still ask his sympathy and elucidation. fact Mot taxpayer. Mr. Gladstone alludes to the he is not always at home, that he is not alwara in a good humour, and that he has not alw s Y s „ o 4 handful of cash within reach. When this bag`till he is sorry for the collector. So are we, but still af more for the victim. Considering the multl tu- „is these calls, it is no wonder that a man isnot fOle-cic prepared for them, and if he cannot write a erg for the amount he must put the collector to ever, trouble of another call. That functionary, 11 1: g • is either at no great distance or he is frequell'ir':at ing his rounds, and in neither case is it M a g ne ss hardship to have to call again. I t is his os to call, and call again. He generally l`rion.. people. He is chosen because his emploYineut.crata pals a universal knowledge. Perhaps be or collector; perhaps registrar; perhaps sei d Bp clerk; perhaps schoolmaster, o r auctione er int o praiser, or one of the trades which bring hinleople. many houses and into contact with wail P, Of ,tell f course he knows when a man may b e ' - ibird trusted for a few days. Even his second o call does not drive poo r householders wi ld and /13AO are is them dream of a distress. They knew 01 eat elelsoc gentle hands, and that the stern officiei is tempered , with the softer spirit of tra 3 e: ps id man who is often soliciting orders, and v0 1 % 15 1)35' , his Christmas bills, some before New Yea, r ','„, the some before Easter, and equally thankfilinoet latter, will not turn a man's house out of w 11 3 ,30 It e is not his nature or habit. He bs 3 i f f ,letr t r h e oil of humanity in his system. He has st in things going on well all about Mei - ~.you of one thing you feel most comfortably' Stireaself will not forget to pay your tax, and filld,,/a° Tb sold up without notice. You will be remillu e ; . yeat" collector will call you to your duty at the e .,„„ 1 , hour. His memory is so faithful that You may e spared the mental burden. You need ne t ~;" etel' memorandum, or stick up the notice on the„ — „ a t ar iS piece, or knot your handkerchief, for the celleid by sure not to forget you. At least, if he shoo great any i. chance, you will not take it as ac t e . l g eoa lci , s f eght. You will not break your heart if be she l o i rget you altogether. But as far ais cos l ' Mr. Gladstone's bill it will put an end to til l i " n isaci fortable state of things. Th e o ffi c er of tii! Islaog $ Revenue, in other words the exciseman, market town, far or near, and perhaPe tbs., l very little about you, is to drop his missi ve 1 : letterbox of his town ; repeat it, if e ecese ar ' A 's ic e sit in his office expecting your attendance, o r o f presume, your answer by post. The snajor,,itioaicliS accounts are small, and the majority wil l 1.43 'erg are cash, not by check; so the majority of ta%PaYurpceef expected to go to the market town for the P f bi $ unless, indeed, they can forward the m c)ne h l a le r; neighbour going that way- But th e 1 , 5 , 1 - ted °; sponsibility of the transaction is acculn—etieee the taxpayer, who must receive the letter, it in mind, and pay it, either i n per se' bear ve be abearer, or by post. The officer is te ready to receive payment, and, notice of the days and hours in which "e l 0 11 ' n o doubt , t be f cases, it will be much the same thing W hen of payment is made. Yet, there are maul a different character, and many reell,l,l3° 6p bap undeserving of oar sympathy, who sc"' b f e e tit. forget, even after a second warning, ' l oci ,t a ,"; have to pay their assessed taxes, or their '" t. or their income tax, before the month is 0 ; 1 00 13 1s . : frequent occurrence of exceedingly eiln ils ,4 - i4tW et h ' ; makes it difficult to remember them 11-e ,l ll You are sure you have paid the last quarte'' it turns out you are at least one in arre s p r :‘ifilli' are sure you have paid your assessed tal%;‘) after all, it was income tar. Mr. Gle ds 'il l e, r ; s e . mates that some change is necessary 66 i ; c leil e s, t e sury has now and then to decide the ve r „" ti ete , e l question whether to let off a parish Cofer or to ot io collector cannot square his accounts, it f to make good the deficiency. If th s ° s q ie C°11 ; frequently arises, and if the revenue 813P.er tbat ° re sequence, or any parish suffers unjustly' 11130;ei valid reason for a safer class of offle erfli Olfi tilj 50 sponsibility will follow the power of aPP - t bs c 3 O almost as a matter of course. This ie,oloceig of the Treasury as against the local c 0 it, and voluntary agency. But, we subinit'r to still the case of the individual ta%Psie considered. COUNTRY MARKETS' O r e j LEEDS—TuEsDAY. haoY I/j t o t To-day the demand for wheat is ag ain legal be ` s l a p V I millers acting very cautiously, and prices 0 1 3ar leY efi el about is per qr less than on Tuesday last. A11`" bed bought rather cheaper this week. Oats 0. to purchase. Ad --- LIVERPOOL—TuEsDO. dole° v erl There was a fair attendance both of ta svfl e t iVi ti'6 o O r ie country millers at market to-day. Wheat m et r 0 3c', dull sale from millers, and as on Friday l' a d 6d pe.Acal' quotations 3d per cental. Flour also slow, go to ol alittl 6 , and barrel lower on the week. Oats and a a er,,ioef t) to move, although offered on easier teratd ja w ' business doing in beans, peas, and barley , a' favour. Indian corn met a dull sale. T i ler SHEFFIELD—TuEsDAS.. a jot A There was a fair show of grain tod a y' an to day's rates continue quite as dear. my, ~e v , ~_ 53 , - , to . , ea Red wheat, per load of 3 imperial bushels.' ' i s Oa Os White 1 s A d to o ,N » . 60 v ~ 4d ) New red . ~s Od IP t o ll New white ,li t° 0 , '. 15 0 to'' 0 6 ff f t t" ,ocl „pcj Peas, Bea per qr ... . 21 " ' : 403 pa t 0,., ~, _ ....................... • • , 2 9 $ Oa to ps 11 0 :1 Grinding barley Per Maltingditt ' clr ............ ........ , 20 O , _ s 03 : O ti a . : ; :rh b i e t a l e n i N s A : hit3:6KaFst E, to 4 T 24s2 H st o A p e ß 4r4 B; s :o ; lE: e s d l : )1 ............... . 13°. 10e. IOW " , is 4 . d . . .to . l i s .... per... . 1.4: : 11 . : ' . 9 t)a to thing barley at 34s to 37s per qr3Glisi:tr°:4l;ll)'ol)33s66sll-°6.53.1j per 30 st, Oats, old, 24s to 275; vow , ` the O s u e r lil m g arket to-day presented the s aw(' 11Le441 ° °lj:t -----.. arii.i , t or i i t BRISTOL—TuEsiVS, ~_iesg aVaa"' has s borne for some time past. Buyers of foreif r r eo fi P s oP 1 (1 1 r h in w d h n eat would have found offers at ls Pet_s`'aier barley, oats, and peas Were alsro_olo. era, but little was doing in either 0 1 iti ism oe S rne T gp ß a og A pe l J ud S I ua S rp om i n s a 'writing his " r e eb gli I fr e o s ta ll°6l ie"' rainweor,rkanodnLthuedwsaicrillteNsutelt, t soa dro al eo P / 1 this sei purifying yeisnt Knife testimonial roenSmivaepldeitreosse. thed e i\di—r.Aj curativeol l h n a f fl pAo i isclteeeftd: wll7v,,filteira.teirrl;;;:tto: [ADvErmsEmErur.].—Holloway's °into:0101f 0 re's of the bones, and inflammations of the jai,i',;:) lieli,otref,"o", Leicester, suffered severely from a bad foot io o „ea , o during which long period he was there 0 6 ,4 a l l till . P 0 without any perceptible benefit. rola; 60_111110 amputation, which seemed the only 0 0 t t l ese 6- fi )° ,: providentially tried Holloway's remedies; ti D ial• ra iaird great relief, and at last completely e . e fr ° ' - eol °l blemishes, sores, and skin disorders arisi ii t 7v IA p ilis. verished blood or a reckless course ot"lif I"' an d by the judicious use of Holloway's Oiritrae° ...- t il'° Births. ~,,rfOrj BOND.—On. the 13thlinst., at Drinmacor,S° il'err.-440,et1f wife of Captain Wm. Bond, ot a son 011 au f R e els GADSDEN.—On the 13th inst., the wife 0 8"; jun., Esq., of a son. co ROLLAND.—OR the 13th inst., at COR a d a il il i c i; ft.,' ~ heath, the wife of Captain W. E. It ° os f°r° manding H.M.S. Cossack, of a son. i villa/ WAIM—On the 14th inst. at Clevelatia Mrs, George Stinton Ward, ' of a son. 0° i Marriages. 0 0 , a t st• 00( 0 ; of Moon.E—ARNA.TI.—On the 13th inscitorcl tiote Old Trafford, Manchester, Georg n ee da ,if Birmingham to Adele Albertini, yallolor, ~, S al' e lf the late N. A ' . Arnati, Esq., of Willeber,''t.rocrAlSw, PRING—MoonE.—On the 15th inst.. at . priag/0 -0. Gertrude, the second daughter of Jam I A e hal - ex Lisbon, to Harmer Edward Moore, of London. , Clr.tier , t al br o 6 Op SaarrnE---HEasERT.--On the 15th las 'pq , et o o f Usk, Monmouthsire, Walter SulYtnropaairt 'O.' Sir F. Smythe, of Acton 13urnell, / 7 14040 / M. L. Herbert, daughter of Williga fr- Clytha. rli i°l Deaths . , is/ . 'tiS Sarr e Y' OS P DY D C y E c .— e, IDEnsqt.h,onl.:lAth., iongsto.a sast.Stroatha:;dsaco. of , , . i. ~aril'l)L7. GlArisnErr.—On the 15th inst., Eoger ,-, eri. j" co ford-row, aged 64. 'ne 0 ~. .. at 11, sties KRITING.--On th© 15th ins', -,._, gr. 00, Gertrude Marianne, wife of the 110,- 1 ,Jobi 3 4. ing, aged 42. C O laa ° 1 ,ar. , • LEY.—On the 15th inst., at Exeter, __ . , e d 70. - g b , ' Ley, late Madras Horse Artiller%Tioarage, Y t ifl LISTER.—On the 15th inst., at tl. ni v . t,ister:,v, COP near Wolverhampton, the Rec• ":00ida-P1 „or MAINWARING --OR the 15th abedinst' G. 0at00,5, .. , Charles E. Mainwaring, / d, Gras B ,l 6l 7 cp . MAasuALL.----.__HAeontaiySthoisueitalhr6stiahßa. j a il:Li r: l kt o liait °r/ o' „, cp t . s W I ; N i vGerrp iE ot '",t ikilieorrirrrieodlifrr atatii_lo:l:o'l_ stow Villas, Bayswater, ar_o of wror.cetlNr setaocoo.l John Wingeld, D.D., ('"'°` ;2-Westalli% 93 ) : , _„tar v and formerly Head Master 2 _los joiefeeto pp, eldest daughter of the late lia U 0 11 f u I s h b o y foralcrlf _____4, -- 0 0 v. gA s So .) t vvol'lA oo ce oil ' . .10e01 v su s e co London: rrinzed and ri r , r, „ t To _ tlr ssacmheooCtathedral, aa of No. 112, Strand, PrinLeo, _„, 507:_". I Strand, 11 1 the Precinct rto;;ory 1 }Dv. 1 DUltile6e.3;,—Wedll"W' AI TIER E IPARAI $ ' o l l trt, 1 111 11 ' 04e4t,,t t .lel ; 14 tW Il 'i(1: 1 8 ' W and 4 )1 , 1 b' k t (l e t FNF ~P3D4 4 ottd 41 q, titi to t" ?, 'ket t° lt n tc -tto troa, 1) 1 F i io 4, Q Ok e'lat e ~ they k ZS q 're Net et , 14E )4,1 Dlto • 04 114 A ai ra / la (1 1 : 1 11„ s a n. 11 r'ouit Di t li qek - ayri IN lin t ,' I , '4r ilkt w 1 1 14 e e PNel b I .'ow Qty • N 4i.rhe The 11, . 1rd pcqP alk irk'A tow 4 41 111 , 1 1 N t e Ak